Association for Women Attorneys to Hold Annual Banquet

By Andy Meek

The Association for Women Attorneys is holding its annual banquet next month, and it will include a silent auction, cocktail reception, dinner and program as well as an honor presented to a Memphis judge.

The annual event raises money for the association’s scholarship fund. Also, the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award, which is given for outstanding achievement in the legal profession, will be presented to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paulette Delk, the recipient chosen by the association’s board.

This year, the event will be held Jan. 17 at the Tower Center at Clark Tower. The current association president is Emily Campbell Taube, a partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and upcoming president is Frances Riley, with the bankruptcy court office in Memphis.

The cocktail hour and silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and the program starting at 6:45 pm. Tickets are $60 for association members, $70 for nonmembers and $40 for law students.

The association has a board that meets regularly, and the group’s goals include raising money for a scholarship fund as well as promoting certain events with the bar and with the local legal community.

At the previous annual banquet, held earlier this year, scholarship chair Anita Lotz, an attorney with Farris Bobango Branan PLC, made the announcement that scholarships for the year were up $500 over last year and totaled $7,500. Also at that event, Taube addressed attendees and shared some of her thoughts about the group’s direction.

Taube said she hoped this year to see the association enhance its presence and impact in the Memphis area and local legal community, including by increasing and diversifying membership to include attorneys from all sectors of the profession.

“It’s a way for women to get together, support each other.”

–Keating LoweryAttorney, Lawrence & Russell PLC

“Some of the women are in the private sector practicing law, and some are in corporations,” said Keating Lowery, an attorney with Lawrence & Russell PLC who is on the association’s board and is a co-chair of the banquet. “It’s a way for women to get together and support each other in practicing law and also helping the community and legal community, as well.

“We had a golf tournament this year at Mirimichi that was a great success, had good turnout, and raised money for the scholarship fund. We also have the annual banquet. We just had a judicial reception for a holiday gathering, and we offer continuing education classes. We also have a mentoring program, where association attorneys work with students.”

The association’s purpose includes supporting law colleagues in some of the challenges they face as women and attorneys. They do that through ways including mentoring association student chapter members and by promoting public service in the community, including the association’s sponsorship of Dress for Success.

In an effort to support aspiring attorneys, the association conducts fundraising activities, such as continuing legal education seminars and a silent auction at its annual dinner, providing scholarships to the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Association members also are encouraged to give back to the community by providing pro bono work to people who cannot otherwise afford legal assistance.

“Participating is also just a good way for women to get together and get their bearings on what’s going on in the legal community,” Lowery said.